Posted on Dec 11, 2015
When should someone put education credentials after their names? BS, MBA, MFA, JD, PhD etc etc etc when is it acceptable and at what level?
62.5K
41
21
6
6
0
There are so many of these around. When should they be used? I work in higher education and some of these people use three or four in a row after the name. One instructor uses JD, MBA, MPHR, MSCJ. I'm over here like "I have a Bachelor Degree should I add it? Heck I could go with Lawrence Prentice SGT. USA (RET.) BS right? I am sure that I am over thinking this but......
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 15
I think a graduate degree or above is appropriate. I put it in my signature block, and that's about it. I also use only the highest degree earned. I think the highest degree trumps the lower degrees, so adding multiple degrees is unnecessary. I suppose an argument can be made if someone has two terminal degrees (like a PhD and JD, or a PhD and MD).
(10)
(0)
Decided to go hunt for this answer. Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-nominal_letters.
Basic answer:
In the United States, standard protocol is to place them in this order:
Religious institutes
Theological degrees
Academic degrees
Honorary degrees, honors, decorations
Professional licenses, certifications and affiliations
Retired uniformed service (active duty service brackets the name – e.g., Firefighter John Doe, CFD – and active duty armed services do not display postnominals other than branch of service)[1]
Common practice is to name only the highest degree in a particular discipline (e.g., if one had earned one's BS, MS, and PhD in Biology – even from different schools – as well as an MBA in Management, then the preferred listing would be John Doe, MBA, PhD).
Basic answer:
In the United States, standard protocol is to place them in this order:
Religious institutes
Theological degrees
Academic degrees
Honorary degrees, honors, decorations
Professional licenses, certifications and affiliations
Retired uniformed service (active duty service brackets the name – e.g., Firefighter John Doe, CFD – and active duty armed services do not display postnominals other than branch of service)[1]
Common practice is to name only the highest degree in a particular discipline (e.g., if one had earned one's BS, MS, and PhD in Biology – even from different schools – as well as an MBA in Management, then the preferred listing would be John Doe, MBA, PhD).
(3)
(0)
I work in the education field myself and I only have a BAS but who needs to know that? To me it's just those person's in my opinion need this to feel important. It's like some of my co-workers here at work, call them by their first name oh it's Dr., LMBO give me a break lol.
(3)
(0)
PO3 Sherry Thornburg
If you go to the trouble of getting a doctorate and it is the basis for your profession, then I'd say they have a right to being referred to as Dr. We have a scout leader we call Dr. He is a Doctor of Chemistry.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next